Collapsible shoulder wing for dress forms



Dec. 2, 1952 A. LAIKAUF 2,620,099

COLLAPSIBLE SHOULDER WING FOR DRESS FORMS Filed June 16, 1950 2 SHEETS SHEET 1 IN VEN TOR. AD OLPH LAIKAUE' Patented Dec. 2, 1952 EMS Adolph Laikauf, New York, N. Y.

Substituted for application Serial No. 778,356, c'tober7, 1947. This application June 16, 1950,

Serial No. 168,620

10 Claims.

"October 7th, 1947.

One object of the present invention is to provide in a dress form means whereby a dress or the like of a small waist measurement may be put thereon with a minimum of effort.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means in a dress form whereby the shouldersof said form may be collapsed in order that the waistline of a garment being put on might be passed thereover.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a 'dress form having means for collapsing the shoulders thereof to facilitate dressing of the form, easily operable means whereby the collapsed shoulders may be extended to the normal form positions thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide several difierent means for pivotally interconnecting levers =of the collapsing means with the inside faces of the shoulder members.

For further comprehension of the invention, and ofthe objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features "of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In-the accompanying drawings forming a mate rial part of this disclosure:

Fig. -1 is a'front-elevational viewof a model form made in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is aside -elevational view of the form see in Fig. 1.

Fig.3 is a frontelevational View of the form of Fig. 1, illustrating the shoulder members thereof in their collapsed positions.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear view of the collapsible mechanism of the first embodiment and illustrates the samein its collapsed state.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 "inFig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary rear view illustrating the collapsible mechanism of the first embodiment in its extended state.

Fig.7 is a broken away sectional View taken alonglthe lines 1-! in Fig. 5.

Fig.8 is a rear isometric view of the collapsing mechanism used in the first form of the invention.

Fig. *9 is an exploded view of the connector used in the first form of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to "Fig. .8, but illustrating the collapsing mechanism constructed in accordance with a slight modification of the present invention.

Fig. 11 isaplan view ofthe right-handportion 'of Fig. 10, with aportion thereof broken-away to show the screw holes.

The dress form, according to the first form of the present invention illustrated in Figs. :1 to 9, includes a dress or like garment mOdBL'fOIm Ill of papieremach or the like and comprising a body member I l, shoulder members I2 pivotally secured as by hinges 13 to the qbodymemher ll, and a neck member 15 of suitably sturdy material, such as wood or metal.

The shoulder-members 12 are ofxsuch construction and configuration as to be limited by the body member H in the outward extension thereof to the positionsseen in :Fig, 1 and are collapsible intosai'd body; member I I to the positions thereof seen in broken lines in Fig. 3.

Provided for maintaining said shoulder members l2 collapsed, as when the form is belng dressed, and for maintaining them extended, ,as When the form is fully clothed, is a collapsible mechanism disposed in the saidbody member I l.

The collapsible mechanism, see Figs. 4 to 18, includes a vertical operating rod i5 which extends slidingly through the neck member I! and carries thereon, above said neck member I14, a

compression spring i6 and a knob l-l threaded on the extremity thereof. The :purpose of said spring and knob will be seen hereinafter.

Slidinglyfitted .on the operating -rod i5 is an eye-bolt l8, which eye-bolt passes through and pivotally and slidingly connects a pair of triangular levers 23 with said operating rod. A nut -21 or like means is provided for maintaining said triangular levers if; on the said eye-bolt l8. Garried on the said operating rod [5 below the said. triangular levers ill and retained on said rodby a suitable keeper '22 is a second compression spring 23, the purpose of which will also be seen hereinafter.

Passing through each of said triangular levers 20 at the corners substantially laterally disposed from the eye-bolt iii-are rods 24 which rods are suitably secured to the levers to prevent sliding movement thereof. Interconnectingthe extremities of said rods 24 and-suitably held fast to said extremities are tension springs 25. It wi-lrbe seen that as long as said tensionsprings 25 are positioned above said eye-bolt it they will be elfective for drawing inward on the said triangular levers 20 and for engagingthe said eyebolt 3 with the abovementioned second com"- pression spring 23. However, should said eyebolt i8 be raised to a position above the tension springs 25, then the said tension springs will be effective for extending the said triangular levers 29, in the manner seen in Fig. 6.

Means is provided for attaching the top corners of the'triangular levers 21) to the inside faces of the shoulder members [2. That attaching means is comprised of an L-shaped connector member 28 for the top corner of each of the levers 20. One arm 28 see particularly Fig. 9, of each of the L-shaped connector members 28 is provided with a wood screw thread by which that arm is tentatively secured, during initial assembly, to a reinforcing block 29 secured to the inside face of the respective shoulder member l2. Inward of the wood screw thread, the arm 28 is provided with an attaching plate 30 formed with spaced holes 3| for the passage of wood screws 32 for fixedly securing the plate 30 to the reinforcing block 29 if the initial assembly is found to be correct.

The other arm 28 of each of the L-shaped connector members 28* is rotatively passed through its respective top corner of the respective lever 20 and is sleeved by washer 33 and has a nut 34 threaded thereon for retaining that arm in position on the lever 20. If desired, any suitable means can be used for locking the nut 34 in position on the arm 28 of the connector member 28. A cotter pin could be used for that purpose. It is appreciated that the top corners of the levers 20 are formed with suitable enlarged holes in which the arms 28* of the connector members 28 are rotatively received.

In use, it will be seen that an exertion of inwardly directed pressures on the shoulder members 12 will cause said triangular levers 20 to rotate inwardly to position the eye-bolt 18 below the tension springs 25. Thus, said tension springs 25 will be effective for maintaining said triangular levers 2t and the shoulder members I2 collapsed (Figs. 3 and 4).

Now, in order to extend said triangular levers 28 to thereby extend the shoulder members 52, the said operating rod 55 may be actuated by grasping and lifting the knob H. In this manner the eye-bolt I8 is raised to a position above the tension springs 25 and said triangular levers 20 are extended in the manner above described.

This just describedextension operation may also be effected by striking a sharp blow on the said knob ll. This will effect a compression of the first spring 16, which, with the assistance of the second spring 23, will cause the eye-bolt l8 to be raised to a position above the tension springs 25 with the resultant extension of the triangular levers 20 also effected in the manner described above. The tension on the said operating rod l may be increased or decreased by screwing the knob ll up or down on the rod is and thereby affecting the association between said knob and said first compression spring i6.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 10 and 11, there is shown a modified means connector members 40 are pivotally secured to the top corners of the levers 20' by nut and bolt assemblies 42. Interposed between the adjacent faces of the to corners of the levers 20' and the arms 40 of the L-shaped connectors, on the bolts of the nut and bolt assemblies 42, there are washers 43, see Fig. 11.

In other respects the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 is similar to the first form and like reference numerals are used to identify like parts in each of the several views.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a dress form, the combination with a body member, a neck member, and shoulder members pivoted to said body member and being collapsible therein; of a collapsible mechanism associated with said shoulder members and comprising a pair of triangular levers, biasing means normally adapted for maintaining said levers collapsed, an operating rod slidingly associated with said levers and passing through and extending above said neck member, resilient means carried on said operating rod below said triangular levers and being efiective when said rod is actuated. for assisting in causing said biasing means to effect the extension of the collapsed triangular levers, a resilient means carried on the upper end of said operating rod between the extremity thereof and the said neck member, and an adjustable knob fitted on the rod and adapted to co-operate with said resilient means for adjusting the tension on said rod.

2. In a dress form the combination with a body member, a neck member, and shoulder members pivoted to said body member and being collapsible therein; of a pair of triangular levers, each being pivotally connected to one of said shoulder members, an operating rod having said triangular levers pivotally and slidingly associated therewith at a common point, said operating rod passing through and extending above said neck member, biasing means between said triangular levers and effective when positioned above said common point for maintainin said levers collapsed, a coil spring carried on said operating rod below said triangular levers and being effective when said rod is actuated for engaging and rotating said triangular levers and thereby assisting in the positioning of said biasing means below said common point for effecting the extension of said triangular levers.

3 In a dress form, the combination with a body member, a neck member, and shoulder members pivoted to said body member and being collapsible therein; of a pair of triangular levers, each being pivotally connected to one of said shoulder members, an operating rod having said triangular levers pivotally and slidingly associated therewith at a common point, said operating rod passing through and extending above. said neck member, biasing means between said triangular levers and effective when positioned above said common point for maintaining said levers collapsed, a coil spring carried on said operating rod below said triangular levers and being effective when said rod is actuated for en gaging and rotating said triangular levers and therebyassisting in the positioning of said biasing rod and adapted for associating with said resilient'means for adjusting the tension onsaid rod.

4. In a dress form, the combination 'with a body member and shoulder members pivoted to said body member and being collapsible therein; of a stationary rod; a pair of triangular levers each being pivotally connected to one of said shoulder members and bothbeing pivotally and slidingly associated with said rod; biasing means normally adapted for maintaining said levers in collapsed relation, and resilient means carried on the lower end of said rod and being effective when said collapsed levers are collapsed still further for causing said biasing means to effect the extension of said triangular levers.

5. In a dress form, the combination with a body member, a neck member, and shoulder members pivoted to said body member and being collapsible therein; of a stationary rod an-' carried on said rod at the lower extreme thereof and being effective when said collapsed shoulder members are collapsed still further and released for causing said biasing means to effect the extension of said triangular levers and shoulder members.

6. In a dress form, the combination with a body member, a neck member, and shoulder members pivoted to said body member and being collapsible therein; of a collapsible mechanism associated with said shoulder members and comprising a pair of triangular levers, biasing means normally adapted for maintaining said levers collapsed, an operating rod slidingly associated with said levers and passing through and extending above said neck member, resilient means carried on said operating rod below said triangular levers and being effective when said rod is actuated for assisting in causing said biasing means to effect the extension of the collapsed triangular levers, a resilient means carried on the upper end of said operating rod between the extremity thereof and the said neck member, and an adjustable knob fitted on the rod and adapted to associate with said resilient means for adjusting the tension on said rod, and means pivotally attaching the top corners of said levers to the inside faces of said shoulder members.

7. In a dress form, the combination with a body member, a neck member, and shoulder members pivoted to said body member and being collapsible therein; of a collapsible mechanism associated with said shoulder members and comprising a pair of triangular levers, biasing means normally adapted for maintaining said levers collapsed, an operating rod slidingly associated with said levers and passing through and extending above said neck member, resilient means carried on said operating rod below said triangular levers and being effective when said rod is actuated for assisting in causing said biasing means to effect the "extension of the collapsed triangular levers,

a resilient means carried on the upper "end :of said operating rod between'th'e extremity thereof and the said neck member, and an adjustable knob fitted on the rod and adapted to associate with said resilient means for adjusting the tensionon said rod, and means pivotally attaching the top corners of said levers to the inside :faces of said shoulder members, said pivotal attaching means comprising reinforcing blocks secured to theinside faces of'said houlder members, and L-shaped connectors interposed between'said reinforcing blocks and thetop'corners 'ofsaid triangular levers.

8. In a dress form, the combination with a body member, a neck member, and shoulder members pivoted to said .bodymember and being collapsible therein; of a collapsible mechanism associated with said shoulder members and com prising a pair of triangular levers, biasing means normally adapted for maintaining said levers collapsed, an operating rod slidingly associated with said levers and passing through and extending above said neck member, resilient means carried on said operating rod below said triangular levers and being effective when said rod is actuated for assisting in causing said biasing means to effect the extension of the collapsed triangular levers, a resilient means carried on the upper end of said operating rod between the extremity thereof and the said neck member, and an adjustable knob fitted on the rod and adapted to associate with said resilient means for adjusting the tension on said rod, and means pivotally attaching the top corners of said levers to the inside faces of said shoulder members, said pivotal attaching means comprising reinforcing blocks secured to the inside faces of said shoulder members, and L-shaped connectors interposed between said reinforcing blocks and the top corners of said triangular levers, each of said L-shaped connectors having one arm threaded into the respective reinforcing block and its other arm rotatively extended through the top corner of the respective lever.

9. In a dress form, the combination with a body member, a neck member, and shoulder members pivoted to said body member and being collapsible therein; of a collapsible mechanism associated with said shoulder members and comprising a pair of triangular levers, biasing means normally adapted for maintaining said levers collapsed, an operating rod slidingly associated with said levers and passing through and extending above said neck member, resilient means carried on said operating rod below said triangular levers and being effective when said rod is actuated for assisting in causing said biasing means to effect the extension of the collapsed triangular levers, a resilient means carried on the upper end of said operating rod between the extremity thereof and the said neck member, and an adjustable knob fitted on the rod and adapted to associate with said resilient means for adjusting the tension on said rod, and means pivotally attaching the top corners of said levers to the inside faces of said shoulder members, said pivotal. attaching means comprising reinforcing blocks ecured to the inside faces of said shoulder members, and L-shaped connectors interposed between said reinforcing blocks and the top corners of said triangular levers, each of said L-shaped connectors having one arm threaded into the respective reinforcing block and its other arm rotatively extended through the top corner of the respec- ,tive lever, and an attaching plate on the said one arm intermediate of its ends for attachment to the adjacent face of said reinforcing block.

, 10. In a dress form, the combination with a body member, a neck member, and shoulder members pivoted to said body member and being collapsible therein; of a collapsible mechanism associated with said shoulder members and comprising a pair of triangular levers, biasing means normally adapted for maintaining said levers collapsed, an operating rod slightly associated with said levers and passing through and extending above said neck member, resilient means carried on said operating rod below said triangular levers and being eifective when said rod is actuated for assisting in causing said biasing means to efiect the extension of the collapsed triangular levers, a resilient means carried on the upper end of said operating rod between the extremity thereof and the said neck member, and an ad- 20 justable knob fitted on the rod and adapted to ,co-operate with said resilient means for adjusting the tension on said rod, and means pivotally attaching the top corners of'said levers to the inside faces of said shoulder members, said pivotal attaching means comprising reinforcing blocks secured to the inside faces of said shoulder members, and L-shaped connectors interposed between said reinforcing blocks and the top corners of said triangular levers, said L-shaped connectors being formed of short lengths of angle iron material and having one arm attached to the respective reinforcing block and the other arm pivotally attached to the respective lever by a nut and bolt assembly.

ADOLPH LAIKAUF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 7 1,412,272 Creveling Apr. 11, 1922 2,082,556 Smith et a1. June 1, 1937 2,215,748 Wolf et a1. Sept. 24, 1940 

